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Indigenous Saints: Magic at Moorabbin

St Kilda has rightful claim to the status of 'trail-blazer' when it comes to indigenous footballers.

As of 2019, 28 indigenous men have represented the red, white and black, with their incredible talent and ability to excite at the forefront of their careers.

The very first indigenous footballer to line up for St Kilda was Jim Wandin in 1952.

Wandin was a senior figure in the Victorian indigenous community at the time as the ngurungaeta (head man) of the Wurundjeri people.

He played just 17 games over two seasons as the 12th Aboriginal player to play at VFL level in the first 55 years of the league.

Robert Muir was the next indigenous player to represent the Saints when he made his debut 21 years after Wandin’s time at St Kilda came to a close.

Known mainly for his firebrand style, Muir’s immense talent is often forgotten. Muir played just 68 games for the Saints but played with a distinct flair that made him a fan favourite at Moorabbin.

Muir’s short temper, combined with frequent racial slurs meant he would often blow up at opponents and umpires alike and his outbursts still feature regularly in clips highlighting some of the more volatile moments in the game’s history.

Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, St Kilda led the way with recruiting indigenous footballers.

Phil Narkle, Russell Jeffrey, Greg and Gilbert McAdam, Bob Jones, Jim Krakouer and Dale Kickett all represented the Saints, who had the second-best indigenous representation of the time behind West Coast.

But none were as extraordinary as Nicky Winmar.

The boy from Pingelly left an inspiring legacy across his 12 seasons at Moorabbin, playing 230 games for the red, white and black and becoming the first ever indigenous player to reach the prestigious 200-game milestone.

But it is Winmar’s stand against racial vilification in 1993 that defined his career, with his proud gesture immortalised in Australian sporting history; its significance to a nation and a people unparalleled.

Today, the club's rich indigenous legacy continues through Jade Gresham, Ben Long, Matty Parker, Paddy Ryder and Bradley Hill, each enriching the Saints with their proud culture and aptitude for the extraordinary.